https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 03:31:02 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-pumping-correctly-low-output#post-2036159 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 16:26:30 +0000 kiddosc 2036159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you've gotten some really good tips. I would also like to throw in that your baby is only 3 weeks old. Your supply is still coming in and your baby's stomach is still quite small. Since breastfeeding is a supply and demand type thing, I think you're right on track. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-pumping-correctly-low-output#post-2036148 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 16:23:19 +0000 SleepyMonkey 2036148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So you said that LO eats 2.5-3 oz in a feeding and you are pumping 1-1.5 oz per breast, that makes total sense. Your breasts produce as much as your baby eats. I wouldn't stress too much about this. When I pumped when LO #1 was 4 weeks old, I got about the same amount. By 4 months, one pump session would yield around 5 oz, which was how much my LO was eating too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-pumping-correctly-low-output#post-2036086 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 15:50:24 +0000 psw27 2036086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you are doing great! I also pumped for at least 15 minutes each time, I never noticed a second letdown. Two tips - 1. always have some water with you and try to drink while you pump. 2. sometimes it helps to look at a picture of your LO while you pump. (weird but works...) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-pumping-correctly-low-output#post-2036068 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 15:43:48 +0000 MrsBeluga 2036068@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would recommend pumping for 15 minutes, you already are set up - so just let it do its thing a bit longer just in case there is more milk. </p> <p>I also recommend trying to relax and not watching, the more I watched the more anxious I became, which affects output. </p> <p>Since you are doing both, 1.5 ounces is actually really good! Hang in there and good luck!</p> <p>Also adding that your prolactin levels are highest in the early morning, so make sure you pump in the AM. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-pumping-correctly-low-output#post-2035970 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 15:09:18 +0000 littlejoy 2035970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pmrlady: You are doing awesome!!! You're doing both, and it sounds like your supply is great. I would usually get 2-3 let downs per session, but that didn't really become the standard until about 3-4 months pp. Best wishes mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-pumping-correctly-low-output#post-2035853 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 14:34:45 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2035853@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That sounds like really great output for 3 weeks postpartum. That's probably all your LO is drinking right now, but it should increase in the coming weeks/months. I used to always pump past my 2nd letdown and for at least 30 minutes each time to stimulate supply. Ended up with oversupply. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-pumping-correctly-low-output#post-2035790 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 14:04:50 +0000 purrpletulips 2035790@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>check your flange size, I went down (24 to 21) and saw a marked increase in my pumping output. Also remember that as others have said you are pumping on top of BF so 1.5-2oz is a great amount. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-pumping-correctly-low-output#post-2035758 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 13:52:55 +0000 aegie 2035758@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would try to 2 letdowns per pump, so my entire pump session would last about 30 minutes. Usually the second one produced more than the first. But you're only 3 weeks in, so I think more than anything how often you're pumping is key. My milk didn't come in until about 5 days after and even then I was pumping maybe 1.5 oz per session until about 2 weeks later. Gradually I produced more but I was pumping every 2-3 hours. So factoring in bf'ing I would try to do it so that you're bf'ing or pumping every 3 hours. If' youre already bf'ing every 3 hours and you're pumping on top of that, I would just extend the duration of pump time to about 30 minutes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-pumping-correctly-low-output#post-2035740 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 13:48:42 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2035740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>An ounce or two after breastfeeding is great! </p> <p>If you really want to pump more at once you could try to find a time during a long stretch of sleep and pump then. So if baby wakes at 4 am to nurse then you get up and pump at six and then nurse again at 8 am when baby wakes </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-pumping-correctly-low-output#post-2035735 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 13:46:47 +0000 lady grey 2035735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pmrlady: I agree with the other posters recommendations and also when your milk flow slows down and you go back to stim mode try to take deep breaths and relax as much as you can. If you are tense at all or worried about the output that can slow down your flow. Also warmth can help with milk flow so use a warm pack before or while pumping (I like the long microwavable neck warm packs because you can sort of drape them over your breasts). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-pumping-correctly-low-output#post-2035629 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 13:14:42 +0000 MrsKoala 2035629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I usually have another letdown after the 20 minute mark so generally I pump for 30 minutes. Try pumping longer to see if you might have another letdown (even if nothing is coming out). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-pumping-correctly-low-output#post-2035626 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 13:12:36 +0000 Bluebonnet 2035626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pmrlady: In the beginning, you won't get much per session (especially if you are pumping in addition to feeding). </p> <p>I suggest pumping after the first nursing session of the day and pump for 15 minutes. This way you will train your body to produce more and you can build up a freezer stash (if you want). I felt so much better going back to work with a sizable freezer stash. I knew that if my output dropped because of stress, illness, or whatever, I wouldn't have to worry about making enough that day for LO.</p> <p>I agree with @magnolia: check your parts to make sure you are using the right size flange (this will also make a difference in output). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-pumping-correctly-low-output#post-2035606 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 13:04:39 +0000 catomd00 2035606@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You don't want to pump too much and end up with an oversupply! You really only need enough I the frrezer for your first day back at work. Personally I would pump once a day (around the same time) about an hour after you nurse and for no longer then 15 mins. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-pumping-correctly-low-output#post-2035598 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 13:02:12 +0000 magnolia 2035598@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pmrlady: have you tried a different size breast flange (or whatever they are called), I have the medela pisa and was using the ones that came with it (24mm), only getting 1 oz or less per side, then I got a smaller size (21 mm) and get about 2 oz per side. I also tried different times of day to pump and try to wait about an hour in between feeding my little guy.. Hang in there, anytime you pump even if you don't get much it should help your supply </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-pumping-correctly-low-output#post-2035545 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 12:40:43 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 2035545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you are supposed to pump for about 15-20 mins in the early weeks before your supply is established. The stimulation will help your body make more milk. My supply didn't increase until about weeks 6-8. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-pumping-correctly-low-output#post-2035536 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 12:36:36 +0000 autumnlove 2035536@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always tried to pump for 30 minutes (after nursing) in the first 6 weeks. I didn't see a lot of milk until after 20 minutes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-pumping-correctly-low-output#post-2035535 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 12:36:27 +0000 Anagram 2035535@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pmrlady: It sounds like you are doing everything correctly!</p> <p>Keep in mind that you are pumping ON TOP OF BFing--so if your boobs have gotten used to producing say, 22 oz a day for your LO, you are now asking them to produce more when you pump after you have fed LO, so 1-2 oz seems totally normal.</p> <p>If you were pumping in stead of BFing, you would probably get more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-pumping-correctly-low-output#post-2035530 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 12:33:29 +0000 pmrlady 2035530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So LO is 3 weeks old and I am starting to combine pumping with BFing in preparation to go back to work. My pumping output is kind of low, per session I get about 1-1.5oz per breast. Sometimes I get less than an ounce if LO has breastfed recently. So far, it seems she takes between 2.5-3 oz per feeding when we give her a bottle. </p> <p>So I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong. Here is what I do:<br /> -Before starting to pump, I massage the breast until I see a drop start to come out.<br /> -Then I turn on the stimulation mode and increase until the milk starts coming out. Then I switch to letdown mode. I get a good output for about 3 minutes, and then it abruptly tapers off.<br /> -At this point, I start to massage the breast again while pumping and more milk comes out but then again stops.<br /> -I try to switch back to stimulation mode to see if it triggers it again. This sometimes works and some more milk comes out and then stops again. I pump a minute or two longer after no more milk is coming out and then stop<br /> -This whole thing lasts less than 10 minutes, maybe 7-8 minutes. </p> <p>I don't know if I should pump for longer, like 15 minutes, even though nothing is coming out?<br /> I don't think I have a low milk supply based on the fact that, a. LO is gaining weight appropriately on EBF, b. she has plenty of wet and dirty diapers per day, and c. she seems satisfied after a feeding.<br /> But for some reason it seems like I have a low supply based on my pumping output...</p> <p>Any suggestions? </p>